newly diagnosed

cboo1974

Posts: 57
Joined: Oct 2008

Oct 12, 2008 - 1:24 pm

I just had surgery to remove a nodule that was on my right lobe. When a biopsy was done it showed that I have thyroid cancer. I do not know what to expect. All I know is that my doctor has mentioned having to have surgery to remove the rest of my thyroid. If anyone has any helpful information please let me know.It has been a very hard week for me and no one in my family or friends understand what having cancer is like. I would be grateful to anyone who responds to this because you will understand what I am going through.

I am so sorry that the surgery found cancer. I know it must be very difficult to have surgery again so soon. I am not yet diagnosed but - like you - may face surgery to determine if the nodule is cancerous or not since FSA cannot rule it out. Hard to go under "wondering" and the chance of 2nd surgery. I really don't know very much so maybe someone more experienced will also reply to you. However, I do know you should ask questions including: 1) What type of thyroid cancer do you have? 2) What is the stage of the cancer? 3) What is the follow up treatment that is proposed? These are just some of the questions that the doctors should answer for you - and make sure you insist they explain everything to you in a way that you and your family can understand. That said, my research tells me you are most likely to have the type of thyroid cancer that is very curable. This means you will most likely have a long life although with careful monitoring and, as needed, various treatments. You didn't say how old you are...I myself hate to admit my age. Age can matter though as the younger you are - the better you will respond to surgery and treatments (but isn't that always the case!). I hope this bit of information helps you until someone else comes along to add their experienced thoughts. In the meantime, you should take very good care of yourself. Pamper yourself and tell everyone else to pamper you, too. At least for a little while...I will say a prayer that the second surgery goes very well and you are back to your old self in time to celebrate the holidays and a happy new year. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Thank you for the response. Sorry about your situation also. I know it's not easy to play the waiting game. It can be torturous if you allow it to be, but I found that when I was around other people or working it kept my mind off of the possibilities.So maybe those ideas may help you. In my case the doctor did not expect the nodule to be cancerous, even when they took out the right side of my thyroid the tissue didn't look cancerous. It was not until the biopsy was done that the cancer was found. The good news, if you can call it that, was that I do have papillary thyroid cancer and it is contained in the thyroid. I will pray that you do not have cancer. I know when I found out about mine I was numb and in a fog for days. It can be very emotional. you will here some people say oh it's the most curable cancer but it's still CANCER and like anyother cancer it can spread so the sooner it is found the better. Good Luck.

Hi cboo -
Sorry that you got bad news - and I especially wanted to respond, because I had a similar reaction to my "good news" 7 months ago that it was "only" papillary thyroid cancer. I had read that only 5% of nodules were cancerous, so I was really surprised and did not feel "lucky" at all at that point. And I still had to have surgery, yes not the worst surgery in the world, but still surgery to remove CANCER!

I was at least "lucky" that the papillary thyroid cancer was diagnosed via the FNA biopsy, so when I went for surgery about three weeks later, I knew that they were taking out the entire thyroid. (Sorry that you have to go through a second procedure.) As I told Patty elsewhere (Hi and thoughts are with you too, Patty), I was also lucky that the cancer was contained within the thyroid -- which for me, meant that I did not have to have follow-up RAI.

All that being said -- I am still going through the emotional effects that any cancer diagnosis puts us through, and am still fearful every time I go for a medical test of any kind. But, hopefully, the fear keeps us on top of things....
Best wishes being sent your way, Gail

Hi cboo,
I found out on Friday my surgery for a total thyroidectomy will be on Tuesday (10-28).I am a little nervous but feel this is the right thing to do at this time. I already had the needle biopsy and cancer cells were found. I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster. Another biopsy will be done at that time. A RAI treatment will probably be my next step. It is so good to have this site to talk to others going thru the same thing. My faith in God is the only thing getting me thru this. Take care and know that you are in my prayers.
CVIC

Hi Cboo,
I just had a complete thyroidectmy on Tuesday. I was able to return home yesterday (Wed) and can say that I don't really feel bad. Just tired. My dr put me on cytomel as my hormone replacement. Not sure what I am supposed to be feeling. A biopsy is being done on the thyroid to see if that is the only place the cancer had invaded. The incision really does not hurt. It is more of a stiff neck. I know what you mean about people not really understanding that haven't gone thru any of this. I am glad I found this site to check things out. Hope you are feeling better.
CVIC

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